Malick laughed again and all eyes turned to him in surprise. Eileifr half rose from his chair. "Malick, is this true?"

He made a dismissive gesture with his hand. "What do you think?"

Celandine looked from Jorick to his Master. "That is not an answer."

Malick stood and turned to face the unsettled High Council. "Am I beholden to you? Am I beneath you that you would question me?"

"The councils were created for a reason," Celandine argued. "You do not have ...